When the s*#t hits the fan.

When the sh*t hits the fan there are a number of places you could be

In front of the fan getting a full covering of the brown stuff.
Other people behind the fan tipping it on and making things worse for those in front
The person who initiated the fan and started this whether intentionally or not.
The one looking for the plug or the off switch to make it stop.
The one looking in the room and walking away glad it is not your office (or fan.)
Or the one wondering where it is all coming from and why has it built up so much to make such a mess and why the person behind the fan has chosen now to start feeding it into the fan.

I guess this metaphor can relate to a large number of circumstances or situations but there always tends to be the above players involved.
Some one always comes off worse, it may only be for short time and a quick shower and it is forgotten or it could be a life changing truck full of it dropped on you. It may be that you are not the intended target but happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and walk past the fan when it is turned on
There will also be someone or something providing the bad news. It may not be thier fault but they certainly have something they want to get off thier chest and have chosen now to share it around.
There will also be people who love a drama and will try and add to the situation whether seeing it as a good time to vent thier own frustrations or just to see what happens.
The one looking for the plug may look like they are helping by switching it off or fire fighting the situation but by turning the fan off just means the issue is still there but now it is in a heap on the floor rather than spread around or hitting its intended target. This may just divert the issue towards them for getting involved or not allowing the situation to resolve.
There will be many people who will back away from situations of confrontation or anger very quickly.
Then there is the one who tries to find out the root cause of the issue not just switch it off. They will be curious where it came from and can it be prevented from reoccuring. Could it affect more people than just those involved today. Many questions will be asked and anaylsed.

Who do you relate to in this situation?